Shelter Pup With ‘Ducky’ Feet And Flappy Walk Gets An Unexpected Second Chance

He’s so adorable and unique 🥺

When a stray dog named Ducky arrived at the Lancaster Animal Care Center in Lancaster, California, last month, the facility’s staff members immediately fell in love with his lovable, outgoing personality. While some dogs shut down in the crowded care center, Ducky let his guard down right away.

“[H]e wasn’t letting the environment get to him at all,” Evelyn, a volunteer at Lancaster Animal Care Center, told The Dodo. “He was just so hopeful.”

As the animal care center staff examined Ducky, they realized that there was something unusual about his feet. His front paws were sticking out at a 90-degree angle, kind of like a duck’s webbed feet.

At first, Evelyn, who preferred to have her last name omitted, assumed Ducky’s unusual paws were the result of a genetic abnormality. But there’s a possibility that his unique feet may have been caused by being confined to a small space for too long.

@evelyn.garces_UPDATE: RESCUED 🤍🩶 noah’s body is proof that backyard breeding truly is terrible. that and his terrible crop job. he’s so skinny too 🙁 everything about him just breaks my heart. every dog here is urgent the second they walk through the doors. if you are interested in noah, don’t walk, RUN to go get him!! he’s only 24 teeny tiny lbs and 2 years old. A5734862 LANCASTER ANIMAL CARE CENTER; 5210 West Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93536 • Public Hours 11am-5pm Monday thru Saturday (closed Sunday) Website:animalcare.lacounty.govEmail: DACCLancasterRescue@animalcare.lacounty.gov#shelterdog#cleartheshelters#lacounty#foryoupage#fyp♬ Margaret – Lana Del Rey

Ducky got a thorough examination and an X-ray at the vet, but even his doctors weren’t able to figure out why his feet were so atypical. Thankfully, though, they were able to determine that his paws weren’t bothering him.

“[H]e doesn’t seem to be in any kind of pain, and it doesn’t seem to be affecting him at all,” Evelyn said.

Ducky’s vets also discovered that he had a microchip. But when they called the number attached to the chip, his owners said they didn’t want him anymore.

Evelyn was heartbroken that such a sweet dog could be discarded like he didn’t matter. She didn’t understand why someone wouldn’t want him.

“He’s so goofy and affectionate,” Evelyn said. “And he just loves everyone.”

When Evelyn learned that Ducky needed a short-term foster, she jumped at the opportunity and spent a beautiful day with him.

“We took walks, and we played together, and I spoiled him with a bunch of chicken,” Evelyn said. “He just melts into your arms, and you just want to squish his cute face all the time.”

@evelyn.garces_i am so grateful to be a small stepping stone in noah’s path to a new life where he will be forever loved from this day forward. i’ve never fostered a dog, but when i saw noah needed a foster for just a few hours, how could i not?! he’s so affectionate, happy, playful, and gentle all at once. his new name is ducky and it couldn’t fit him any better. my heart will be broken when i say goodbye to him tomorrow morning, but for now, he’s getting sooo spoiled.#shelterdog#cleartheshelters#lacounty#foryoupage#fyp♬ this is me trying – the long pond studio sessions – Taylor Swift

Shortly after, Ducky was taken in by Minnie’s Mutts Dog Rescue, who got him set up in a long-term foster home. With his foster family, Ducky is enjoying taking warm baths and getting in lots of naps.

Ducky is available for adoption through Minnie’s Mutts Dog Rescue. After seeing Ducky go through getting abandoned by his family, all Evelyn wants is for him to find a loving forever home.

“[T]here’s not even enough words to explain how excited I would be for him,” Evelyn said. “The day I hear that he gets adopted, it’s just going to melt my heart. He’s really such a special dog.”